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Title: Weed competition and dry bean yield components

Author
item Webber Iii, Charles
item SHREFLER, JAMES - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Weed Science Society of America Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/6/2002
Publication Date: 2/10/2003
Citation: Webber III,C.L., Shrefler, J.W. 2003. Weed competition and dry bean yield components [abstract]. Weed Science Society Association Annual Nationl Meeting, February 10-13, 2003. 43:10.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Weed competition can significantly reduce dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) yields and therefore the profitability for the producer. Depending on the dry bean variety produced, the yield components may be affected differently by the stress produced by weed competition. This research was conducted to determine the effect of weed competition on the yield components of four dry bean varieties. The research design included four dry bean varieties, two weed control levels, two moisture levels, and four replications. The four dry bean varieties included black bean cv. 'Black Knight,' navy bean cv. 'Gryphon,' pink bean cv. 'ISB 462,' and pinto bean cv. 'Apache.' The beans were planted the last week of April with a four-row planter set on 36-in row spacing. The two weed control treatments included season long (90-day) "weed-free" and "weedy-check" treatments. The "irrigated" beans received a total (irrigation and rainfall) of 45 cm compared to only 26 cm of rainfall for the "non-irrigated" (dryland) treatment. The greater soil moisture resulted in greater bean yields for the irrigated by significantly increasing the number of seeds/pod and producing larger, heavier seeds (g/100 seeds). Black beans produced greater yields than the other three bean varieties by producing significantly greater seeds/pod and plants/acre. Averaged across bean varieties and soil moisture treatments, weed competition reduced seed yields by 359 kg/ha (27%) by adversely affecting three of the four yield components: pods/plant, weight per 100 seeds, and plant populations. This field research on dry bean production will be used to gain a greater understanding of the mode of action of seed yield depression in dry beans and possible methods for adapting the cultural practices for this region to maximize dry bean seed yields.